‘Yavana kathayil ninnu vanna...’: ‘Anna’ heads to big screen; Tomichan Mulakuppadam bags rights
Thirty years after its production ground to a halt, the long-abandoned Malayalam film project Anna is set to finally make its way to the silver screen. Producer Tomichan Mulakuppadam, operating under his banner Mulakuppadam Films, announced that he has acquired the official rights to the script, intending to revamp and release it for contemporary audiences.
The announcement was timed to mark the tenth anniversary of ‘Pulimurugan’, the iconic blockbuster that etched its place in history as Malayalam cinema’s first ₹100-crore box-office hit.
A three-decade journey from the vaults
Originally conceived in the early 1990s, Anna was slated to be directed by veteran filmmaker Joshiy, starring Tamil star Arvind Swamy in the lead role, with a musical score composed by Ouseppachan. However, the production hit a dead end due to scheduling conflicts with the lead cast and various technical setbacks, leaving N Mohanan’s narrative archived on paper for three decades.
The dormant project experienced an unexpected cultural resurgence following the release of the film Bethlehem Kudumbasamayetham. The motion picture featured Yavanakathayil Ninnuvanna, a romantic track originally recorded for Anna, which promptly turned into a viral hit and reignited public curiosity regarding the shelf-life of the unreleased movie.
Modern retelling and production strategy
In an official statement shared on social media, Mulakuppadam outlined his vision for bringing Anna back to life.
“On the tenth anniversary of Pulimurugan, a film that redefined the commercial equations of Malayalam cinema, I am happy to announce a new journey... I am pleased to share that we have acquired the rights to Anna, a film that began in the 90s but remained incomplete for various reasons.
"When the track 'Yavanakathayil Ninnuvanna' went viral again through ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’, it sparked widespread discussions about Anna.
Driven by the desire to bring this story and its memories to a new generation through fresh writers, we took over the production rights.
A new beginning for a film paused halfway three decades ago... Details regarding the director and cast will be revealed later,” he noted.
The production house has confirmed that the revised project will feature a updated screenplay penned by contemporary writers to suit modern cinematic sensibilities, with cast and crew announcements scheduled for a later date.